HOAs and background checks? (Houston, Howe: sale, lease, HOA)

[mattygb2128]

So I am moving to the city soon (from the panhandle) and have found that like 95% of houses in the Houston area are within HOAs. I am looking to buy a single family house. Not a lease a condo, not rent, purchase.

However, i have a felony from about 10 years ago. It was a stupid situation/midunderstanding that i really had no control over and got screwed on.
Anyway, please dont lecture me on "why i have a felony".

When i run a background check on www.beenverified.com it seems quite extensive, knowing all of my history and my family members history. However, when it comes to criminal background checks it says nothing found. This is very confusing.

How extensive are HOA checks? And if for whatever reason nothing comes up and I get approved...do they run continuous checks on residents??

I dont want to get approved, buy a house, and 5 years later somehow they run another check and find something on me and evict me. I feel like if im a home owner that cant really happen, but i really dont want to get screwed and I am nervous to try.

I would avoid HOA's if i could, but like i said, nearly all housing options near Houston are within HOA's. I dont have much choice.

[Ghost Town]

I live in HOA as well, but don't remember any background checks by HOA.
Only bank ran extensive background check before approving my loan and this is normal.
So maybe your problem is exaggerated or you are talking about some very upscale HOAs.
I am pretty sure with most HOAs this won't be an issue.

[mattygb2128]

That is very reassuring and makes me feel a bit better. Thank you!

[Lowexpectations]

I don't think background checks are the norm

[Jack Lance]

Unless you are a registered sex offender you shouldn't have any problems from the HOA as long as you can get approved for the loan...

[rogerhe]

HOAs are not like co-ops. Never heard of them being able to prevent a sale.

[RestArea]

I know some HOAs in Florida do require that a buyer apply for membership. My understanding is that it can't be turned down except for financial reasons, i.e., not enough monthly income to cover fees, etc. I don't know if the practice occurs anywhere else.

I do know that the Fair Housing Act has plenty of teeth if discrimination is practiced in any way.

[mattygb2128]

This all makes me feel much better. Thank you everyone

[Spartacus713]

I am on the board of an HOA and we do not do background checks. In fact, I am pretty sure that HOA's do not have the legal authority to block the sale of a home or the residency of a homeowner because of a felony conviction. If there is a legal basis for that, I would like to hear what someone thinks that it is.

I am certain I have never heard of anyone being denied the ability to purchase a home because of a criminal record.

Now for a prospective tenant of lease property, it may be a different story, I really do not know.

[ilikeme]

I am also on the HOA board for my neighborhood and never heard of an HOA doing background checks like that.